Tomorrow’s derby will likely be the last one for Franck Kessié in a Rossoneri shirt, but the 25-year-old could play a key role for Stefano Pioli’s side against Inter.
Kessié sees his current deal expire at the end of the season and Tuttosport confirms he is unwilling to extend with the Rossoneri.
Milan offered him a new €6.5m-a-year deal including add-ons, while Kessié wants at least €8m.
Several clubs in Europe have been linked with securing his services: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, but also Inter and Juventus.
Tomorrow’s derby will likely be his last one in a Rossoneri shirt, but Kessié could play a key role against Inter tomorrow.
According to multiple reports in Italy, Stefano Pioli could deploy the 25-year-old as an attacking midfielder in his 4-2-3-1 line-up. This means Brahim Diaz would start the game on the bench, with Sandro Tonali and Ismael Bennacer in centre midfield.
Pioli is looking for more physical strength in the middle of the park and Kessié would man-mark Marcelo Brozovic, probably the most important player in Inter’s build-up play.
Kessié returned from AFCON duty last week after his Ivory Coast side was eliminated at the hands of Egypt in the Round of 16.
The former Atalanta man has scored five goals in 21 appearances across all competitions this season.
Tuttosport – Milan, la mossa di Pioli: Kessie trequartista come Boateng con Allegri https://t.co/YusiycyVF9
— MilanNews.it (@MilanNewsit) February 4, 2022
Hope Pioli let Kessie chase Brozo so Barella can run arround and have a fun. Pioli must do everything possible to win and that suits Inter even better. Gonna be fun tomorrow and long 90 minutes for milanisti.
Makes sense when Tonali and Bennacer are both fit. His legs will help a bit further up the field too, where we keep our static strikers.
At the very least we will play 11 vs 11. With Diaz in the lineup we are one man short.
The secret weapon that gave a penalty away in the first fixture. Milan should not even play him anymore as he is going to leave and it would be better to focus on players who want to wear that shirt. He is not worth the money he is demanding and I hope they can bring in a young Italian to replace him. This coming from a Juve fan but have max respect for that club and what they have achieved.